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Garage Guidelines: Storage Do’s and Don’ts

Your garage isn’t just a place to park the car. For many homeowners, the garage is a storage area to keep belongings, supplies, and equipment and hide the extra junk they don’t have room for in the house. Because of its convenience, the garage is mistakenly believed to be the ideal spot to store just about anything. However, there are some rough guidelines to follow when considering what to stash away in the garage and how to keep everything organized. Whether you are an experienced garage owner or recently bought a new house with a garage, you may be wondering about the best solutions for staying clutter-free, so you always know what you have and where it is. These ideas may help solve your clutter problems forever.

First of all, don’t tackle the job on your own if at all possible, especially if your garage is particularly loaded with potentially hazardous items. Employ the buddy system and draft your friends, family members, or neighbors into action to lend a helping hand. Once you’ve done that, read on and discover an easier way to keep the garage clutter-free with these tips that could have your garage looking like new after just one committed weekend.

Bicycle Storage Rack

One of the hardest parts of owning a bicycle is trying to figure out where you are going to store it when you’re not using it. You probably don’t want it in the house, but you don’t want to leave it in a perilous position and find it laying on the ground in the garage, either. A wall-mounted bicycle storage rack is the answer to your problems, keeping your bike in a safe place and clearing up floor space at the same time. This idea is especially useful during the long winter months when your bike is hibernating.

Pegboard Tool Organizer

If you’re the kind of person whose garage doubles as a workshop, don’t just leave your trusty tools of the trade scattered on the floor or piled on a table. By installing a pegboard tool organizer on the wall, you can store and organize all of your smaller tools in one place with easy access to everything you need while working on a project. Depending on the size, this handy organizer can hold shelves, bins, screwdrivers, hammers, saws, wrenches, pliers, and even some handheld power tools. For long-handled tools, try a tower rack.

Chainsaw Storage

Although a chainsaw may not be the first tool that pops into your mind as a homeowner, they have gained in popularity due to models that are smaller, powered by batteries, and require less maintenance, unlike the traditional gasoline-powered monstrosities. If you’ve discovered the joy of Chain Cutting, you need a good place to hang your chainsaw to keep it off the floor and away from possible danger. It’s as simple as hanging a sturdy storage rack on the wall with a bracket, which should be able to hold the weight of most saws.

What Not to Store in the Garage

While tools and other non-perishable items are perfectly acceptable to store in your garage, there are some things that just do not belong out there. A good rule of thumb is that if it means something to you, do not store it in the garage. A garage is an easy place to break into, much easier than a house or apartment. Remember, if you wouldn’t leave it in the car with the doors locked, don’t leave it in the garage with the doors locked. Beyond valuables, there are several other items that shouldn’t be stockpiled in your garage.

Food: Storing food in the garage is a big no-no, even if you just bought 35 pounds of beans from your local outlet store.Not only can food sources attract unwanted pests and rodents, they will end up spoiling due to the extreme weather changes throughout the year, from humidity and heat to freezing temperatures.

Wine: Hot temperatures may cause wine to expand, leading to oxidation. You are better off placing your wines inside the home, preferably in a wine cabinet or cellar.

Appliances: Do not store your freezer or refrigerator in the garage. On hot days, these appliances will have to runharder to keep the contents cold, which will increase your energy bill, not to mention the environmental consequences of wasting power.

Cardboard: Do not store items in cardboard boxes. Insects and other pests will make themselves at home, probably without you even knowing.

By following these basic guidelines, you will ensure that you, your family, and your garage will all be happy.